Despite missing several months due to delayed concussion from a horror head knock, the defender impressed in his 21 appearances.

The Irishman was selected to succeed Keith Lasley as skipper in the close season and has been an ever-present at the start of this campaign, helping Stephen Robinson’s men to three successive wins in the Betfred Cup.

McHugh is now contracted to Motherwell until the summer of 2019 and Robinson said: “We are absolutely delighted that Carl has extended his stay at the club.

“He’s at the centre of the type of team we’re trying to build.

“He’s a captain in every sense of the word, both on and off the park.

“He’s committed to what we’re trying to do here and I am just so pleased he has agreed to stay.

“We’ll continue to discuss extended terms with other players in the squad and hopefully we’ll have some good news there too.”

McHugh added: “I’m thrilled and it’s great for me to get this tied up before the league campaign starts.

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“We’ve been speaking about it for a few weeks now and it’s been pretty much agreed for a while now, so it’s good to get it over the line.

“With the way the season started for me last season, missing the first six months, well it has been great since then and I’m delighted now.

“Getting the captaincy was obviously a huge honour for me.”

Meanwhile, winger Elliott Frear hopes his Betfred Cup heroics will put him in line for a start against Rangers on the opening day of the season.

Frear’s last-minute winner at Edinburgh City on Tuesday put Well on course for Sunday’s last 16 draw, with 11 goals from the wins over City, Morton and Queens Park.

Well conclude the group section by playing host to Berwick on Saturday but it’s the other Rangers Frear is looking forward to testing himself against.